The Miyazakian
A surfer in a wetsuit carries a longboard along the sand towards the waves at Aoshima

Sun, surf and slow living on Kyushu's east coast

Your guide to Miyazaki Prefecture – written by people who live, work and paddle out here.

Discover Miyazaki

A web magazine about the sunniest corner of Japan

Miyazaki Prefecture runs along the south-east coast of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, with the Pacific on its doorstep and the Kirishima volcanoes at its back.

The climate is subtropical: warm and sunny for most of the year, with crystal-clear water and waves that make Aoshima one of the best places in Japan to learn to surf. Spring and summer are made for the beach. In autumn and winter the air cools down and it's the perfect time to explore the gorges, forests and volcanoes inland.

Get to know the prefecture
Map of Kyushu, Japan, with Miyazaki Prefecture highlighted on the south-east coast PACIFIC OCEAN EAST CHINA SEA FukuokaSagaNagasakiKumamotoOitaKagoshimaShikokuHonshu 宮崎県 MIYAZAKI Miyazaki CityAoshimaNichinanMiyakonojoEbinoHyugaNobeokaTakachiho JAPAN
The vermilion gate of Udo Jingu shrine beside the sea, with a palm tree and stone lantern

Nichinan coast

A shrine inside a sea cave

South of Aoshima, Route 220 hugs the Pacific past Udo Jingu, the moai of Sun Messe and the wild horses of Cape Toi. It's the best road trip in Kyushu.

Plan a day on the coast

Where to go

From the coast to the mountains

Miyazaki stretches from volcanic highlands in the west to 400 km of Pacific coastline in the east. A few places to start.

Manai Falls dropping into the emerald river of Takachiho Gorge
Takachiho GorgeRow beneath Manai Falls
 The bridge out to the small green island of Aoshima under a bright blue sky
AoshimaIsland shrine and surf town
 Wild Misaki horses grazing on a grassy slope above the sea at Cape Toi
Cape ToiWild horses by the sea
 Three moai statues facing out from the hillside at Sun Messe Nichinan
Sun MesseMoai
Clouds drifting over the crater of Shinmoedake in the Kirishima mountains
KirishimaVolcanic highlands
Clay haniwa figures standing among trees at Saitobaru
SaitobaruAncient burial mounds
The Nichinan coast road curving along cliffs above deep blue water
Route 220The Nichinan coast road

Surf

Dawn patrol, every day of the year

East-facing beaches pick up Pacific swell, and the sun rises straight out of the ocean. Board rentals and surf schools at Aoshima and Kisakihama make it easy to start.

A surfer waiting on their board as the sun rises over the ocean A surfer stands in the shallows holding a board in golden evening light A surfer carves a turn throwing spray off the top of a wave
AoshimaFriendly beach break with surf schools and board rental
KisakihamaConsistent peaks, a few minutes from the airport
OkuragahamaA long sweep of sand up north in Hyuga

Surfing in Miyazaki

When to visit

Four seasons, all of them mild

Weather in Miyazaki
Cherry blossoms framing a field of yellow rapeseed flowers
Spring春Cherry blossoms and rapeseed fields from late March.
A red hibiscus flower in bloom
Summer夏Hibiscus, warm water and long beach days.
Pink cosmos flowers in front of the Kirishima mountains
Autumn秋Cosmos at Ikoma Kogen under the Kirishima peaks.
Snow-dusted Kirishima mountains under a blue sky
Winter冬Clear skies, a dusting of snow up high, onsen weather.
Seared tataki slices with lemon and herbs on a wooden board Chicken nanban covered in tartar sauce with shredded cabbage

Food

Eat like a local

Miyazaki is one of Japan's great farming prefectures. The beef wins national championships, the mangoes sell for silly money in Tokyo, and the chicken dishes are on every izakaya menu.

  • Chicken nanbanFried chicken in sweet vinegar, smothered in tartar sauce
  • Jidori tatakiFree-range chicken, flame-seared and served with ponzu
  • Miyazaki beefWagyu that keeps winning Japan's beef "Olympics"
  • MangoTaiyo no Tamago, "eggs of the sun", in season from April
Where to eat

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Getting here

Access

Miyazaki sits on the southeast coast of Kyushu. Most visitors fly in, but the trip overland is half the fun.

By air

Direct flights from Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka land at Miyazaki Airport, just outside the city.

Miyazaki Airport

By rail

Shinkansen to Shin-Yatsushiro, then the B&S Miyazaki express bus: about 3 h 10 from Hakata.

B&S Miyazaki

By bus

The Phoenix highway coach runs direct from Fukuoka in about 4½ hours, typically ¥3,500–7,000.

Buses in Miyazaki

By ferry

Bring the car: an overnight ferry connects Kobe with Miyazaki port.

Miyazaki – Kobe ferry
A long avenue of palm trees under a bright summer sky

See you in Miyazaki

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